The Catholic Order Teaching in the Tsarist state (1772–1802)

Abstract

The aim of this article is to present and popularise information regarding the current state of research on the presence and activity of the members of the Society of Jesus in the Tsarist state between 1772 and 1802. A synthetic analysis of the complex issue of official educational activities provided by the Catholic Order in the Orthodox Russian Empire is based on a comparative analysis of the existing subject literature and the author’s archival research, the results of which have been published in the papers referred to in the article. The first part explains the circumstances that led to the appearance of the Jesuits in Russia and discusses the reasons that allowed these subjects of the Tsar to maintain relative autonomy in managing their Order, ensure its development, and pursue their own goals. The functioning of Jesuit schools in Russia is also discussed in this context. The second part focuses on close relations between the Jesuits and Tsar Paul I, which had a significant impact on the functioning of the Order. Based on, among others, the fragments of the correspondence found in the Roman Archive, the author describes the Tsar’s contacts with Father Gruber and analyses their role, significance and results in the political and diplomatic area connected with the Jesuits’ activity in Russia.

Keywords

• jezuici
• rosja
• petersburg
• szkolnictwo
• kolegium
• paweł i